LETTING A GOOD ONE PASS

Yesterday, I found a beautiful condo complex, buildings surrounding a lovely lake with an island in the center. The day was beautiful, the lake with trout and koi swimming about, gorgeous pond lilies in bloom, the requisite ducks, and frogs; the price was right, but the town was not. Everett is an industrial kind of town with a strong rental market and downtown re-gentrification for anyone interested in this area. In the end, the crush of traffic between Everett and Seattle, and a few wrinkles with the unit as a rental,  changed my mind, temporarily, anyway.  If you are job hunting, this is the place to come.

We moved about 30 miles south to Monroe and spent the night at an Eagles Park. Jim and I sometimes look out our dining room window and comment how nice it is to enjoy a different view from place to place. Of course, not always this pretty. Looking out on a beautiful green meadow, a river rushes by, a flower garden, horse shoe pits, swings for the kids and a huge bonfire sized fire-pit.  It’s only open to Eagles member.

This “bouquet” surrounds the flag pole.

The river is clean and clear, with a gravel and sand bed;  a wading river. If the day had been hot, I’d have had my toes in it immediately. I’m thoroughly enjoying Washington State, despite the cold weather and rain.

LOOKING OVER EVERETT, WASHINGTON.

Yesterday, I got escorted all over Everett, Washington by Home Realty’s Steve Cantor. We stopped and took in views, he showed me the new, youthful neighborhoods near the older moneyed neighborhoods in the woodsy hills, parks, commerce, highways, colleges, and the downtown area with re-gentrification going on. If you ever want to get the pulse of a town, or neighborhood, call on Steve. He showed me this delightful little cookie of  a studio condo, so cute you just want to put it in your pocket.  Then, (don’t tell) we got lost. Well, not really. Steve was supposed to drop me at the Eagle’s Club to meet Jim, and we looked all over for the Elks. The Elks club was not at the address on his Ipad. The telephone was a fax.  Then the dawn…Eagles, not Elks. I was having so much fun I forgot Jim is an Eagle member.
Be you lucky enough to belong to the Eagles, this is a friendly, fun place to be. The bar is in a U shape which encourages interaction with people facing you and beside you. A friendly, fun, bunch. We helped a red-headed woman celebrate her birthday. We had a terrific plate of fish and chips.  I’ve eaten them everywhere in harbor towns. Nothing like good, fresh cod or, even halibut. I normally peel most of the batter off. Not at this place. The best I’ve ever tasted, without a pre-made batter from restaurant supply. If you are so lucky to live here, hie thee down to the Eagles.
I’ll be looking at more condos today before we leave for Monroe.